The nightmare of visas

There are times when preparing for a trip away is almost as fun as the travel itself. All that anticipation can make even the dullest pre-trip chores exciting.

For instance, I actually kind of enjoy making up nerdy little lists of the things I have to do before I leave. And I like wandering through travel shops picking up cool gadgets I'll probably never use.

I like going to the bank to stock up on foreign currency, and walking out and examining my crisp new Benji Franklins. I even don't mind going to the travel doctor to get stabbed a few times and charged for the pleasure.

But for some reason, organising entry visas bugs the hell out of me.

Maybe it's dealing with bureaucrats and red tape, or the expense, or the tedium of filling out forms, or the idea that some rubber-stamper having a bad day could completely screw up my travel plans - whatever it is, I hate applying for visas.

I've never actually been denied an entry visa, so this isn't coming from a place of rejection. I'm lucky enough to have dual citizenship, so I can get away without a visa to plenty of countries I'd otherwise need one for.

But still, I have to toe the line occasionally, and while it's not a major hassle, it's an annoyance most of us could do without. I stress about it, for some reason. I'm always convinced I'll be knocked back and have to cancel my trip.

There are certain things about visas I don't even understand. Like why, thanks to the vagaries of international diplomacy, some nationalities need a visa for certain countries, and others don't. Or why some have to pay more for their visa than others.

And what's with the expense? Some countries are super cheap to get into - you can slap 20 US dollars down at the Addis Ababa airport and it's, "Welcome to Ethiopia". Going to, say, Bangladesh? That'll cost you $150. (Unless you qualify for a visa waiver stamp - which, against all logic, will still cost you $90.)

Now, $150 mightn't seem that expensive when you're lashing out thousands of dollars on flights, but if you're visiting a few countries like that, it adds up pretty quickly.

(Thankfully, the USA's new entry system is free for Australians - but considering that's what you have to do when you don't need a visa, it sounds pretty darn mind-boggling.)

The other thing that bugs me is filling out all those forms and collecting the supporting documents. Some countries might let you in with a brief description of where you're staying and for how long, but others seem to want to know your maternal grandmother's shoe size before they'll consider opening the gates.

China used to be a bad one for this, but they seem to have eased off lately, to the point where you don't even have to have proof of your flights in and out. Even the price has gone down. Happy days.

First time I applied for a Chinese visa was a nightmare, until I realised that if there were any inconsistencies between my application forms and my supporting documents, I could just cross out the offending number and write in the correct one. ("This says you're only at this hotel for one night!" "Oh, what if I scribble that out and change it to three?" "Okay, fine.")

For bureaucratic hoop jumping though, no one beats Russia. If you want to visit the land of vodka, big furry hats and revenge-fuelled cannibalism, get ready to complete some serious paperwork.

Not only will you need proof of entry and exit dates, but you'll also need to have accommodation booked, plus a "travel confirmation form" from a Russian travel agent, a travel voucher, and a cover letter from an Australian travel agent. Sounds pretty straightforward, right?

Once you have all of that, you go line up at the prison-like Russian embassy, and hope like hell that Vladimir at the counter is having a good day.

If he is though, and you get that stamp, at least you can then wander around the country on your own. Go somewhere like Libya or North Korea, and you can expect to be babysat for your whole trip. Makes life interesting, I guess.

Of course, whichever country you're trying to weasel your way into, my advice would be not to write the word "journalist" in the occupation box, as it seems to make red lights flash and sirens go off in immigration offices the world over. I learnt very early on to invent less politically sensitive occupations like "arms dealer" or "terrorist" for my applications.

Still, don't take all this whingeing the wrong way. As painful as the whole visa application process can be, it's a necessary evil, and I'll grudgingly do it if it means I can visit some of the most amazing places in the world.

Plus, they look great in your passport.

Do you dread applying for visas? Have you ever been rejected? Which are the hardest countries to get into?

Hope you're enjoying the Backpacker blog. There'll be a new one up on theage.com.au every Wednesday, for a bit of light relief to remind you of why you went to work in the first place: to save up enough money to get the hell out of here! If there are any good travel topics you think I've missed, drop me a line at bengroundwater@gmail.com.

Posted
by Ben GroundwaterMarch 18, 2009 9:53 AM

LATEST COMMENTS

Lol funny, im going to renew my F visa in Shanghai in 1 hour, after realising on saturday i need original documents. My employer only gave me photocopies.. Still feeling nervous about it. hope it just gets accepted since its expired on 20th March.

I agree though, they are a painful experience and a tremendous waste of time and money.

As a tip, why dont you try blogger instead of journalist?

No one would believe I make money from this... - Ben

Posted by: TB on March 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Ben mate, forget visas. What about the immunisation routine? Visas are a breeze compared to having 12 shots in one sitting. Though I have never had to get a russian visa so I cant really compare.

Posted by: NJ on March 18, 2009 11:08 AM

I never visit a country that requires a visa and I have been overseas 17 times and I am embarking on trip 18 in May. I find any country that requires a visa spells trouble and is largely unsafe.

Really? Dunno about that... - Ben

Posted by: George Papadopoulos on March 18, 2009 11:24 AM

My husband and I were living in Manchester and were planning an Eastern European trip in 2004 at around the time when a lot of countries were about to become part of the Europoean Union. From our research we figured we needed visas for Poland and Hungary so, not living in London, prepared our documents and arranged for them to be registered posted, first to the Polish Consulate in London. Passports arrived back with visas in them. Then to get the Hungarian visa. Went through the whole process again but this time got the passports back with cash and a note saying for the period we planned to visit we no longer needed visas. Further research revealed that we didn't need a Polish visa either but we were still given one and charged for it!

Having said that though, it is fun looking through your passport at the visas you accumulate rather than just a boring old entry stamp, and there was a slight disappointment at not having a Hungarian one to add to the collection.

Posted by: Adele on March 18, 2009 11:25 AM

With a 6 month backpacking jaunt (my first foray outside this country's borders) just 17 days away, I'm up to my earlobes in trip planning, not really because it's essential, but because it's addictive... it's the next best thing to actually travelling.

Agreed, visas have been the absolute low point of the organisational process, both in their selection and aquisition.

When I first decided to go to Europe many months ago, I didnt know what Schengen was. Now I know what it is, but it is INFURIATING how difficult it becomes the second you aren't fitting their mold as a 'tourist'. Less than 90 days? No worries, come enjoy the smorgasboard of Europe! Go anywhere without border control, fantastic!

More than 90 days? Get your reading glasses on, and start delving through web forums. It seems there's no simple way to get any more 'time' in the EU/Schengen area. If anyone can point out how I'm an idiot for missing the simple solution to this... I don't mind, just tell me how. (Just don't tell me I can reset my Schengen time by scooting across a border after my 90 days, then jumping back in... the one thing I've worked out for sure is that it doesnt work like that.)

My solution has been a working holiday visa in Germany, so when my 90 days schengen time is up, I can retreat to Germany rather than the UK. Not ideal, but hopefully it'll work.

That brings me to my final gripe - GETTING that holiday visa? Granted, the paperwork was a breeze, the consulate staff were very helpful, and it all happened very quickly.

But heaven help me, when the consulate is only open weekdays (and only in the mornings?) it can be bloody difficult when your boss isn't overly tolerant of you taking mornings off to sort out your holiday plans!

Posted by: zeDaveo on March 18, 2009 11:30 AM

Russia is even worse for Americans, who have to fill out an additional form (!) basically to prove that their not military spies.

The thing that surprised me most was when the visa looked different depending on where it was issued... I had a Swedish residence permit issued from the Melbourne consulate, and it had my photo on it. Other Australians who had their permits issued in Canberra or Sydney didn't get a photo on them...

I don't mind applying for visas. And it helps you remember your passport number and date of issue which is always handy.

Posted by: Carl on March 18, 2009 11:45 AM

Just recently got my Canadian working holiday visa. Very easy. No fuss at all. Done.

Now I gotta get my US visa for the times I'll be scooting across the border to see stuff (Visa Waiver Program cant be used if you are staying in Nth America for longer than 6 months).

It's already way nmore daunting, with the appointment having to be made, a US$130 un-refundable fee paid before you have said meeting etc etc. Will be glad once its over.

Posted by: Rudiger on March 18, 2009 11:48 AM

It is still refreshing that there are a number of places in the world where arriving at their border with a friendly disposition and a couple of Benji's mate Alex seems to result in visas being granted!

Although this does frustrate those travelling on similar passports that diligently researched requirements/completed forms/posted passports and paid excessive fees!

Posted by: Jeff on March 18, 2009 11:48 AM

As an Asian, I have to get a visa for all first world/developing/white countries. When I first applied for a British visa (this after having had US visa & Aussie visa) I was rejected the first time despite proof of ownership of a high end retail shop. Reason: not enough financial capability. Since I socially knew the consul, who was surprised I got rejected in the first place, told me to go back (and pay again of course) and I'll get it (I did). India was strict about it as well (why would I want to migrate there?!?!?). China was fairly straightforward. US no problem. New Caledonia? Don't even get me started: despite being a French territory with quasi-independent bureaucratic practices, they refuse to 'recognize' French authorities and vice-versa.

Costs: When I applied for my US visa in BKK (10 yr multiple), I paid I think about US$150 for it-it was the eye-and-fingerprint-process. When I renewed my British visa 18 months ago in Sydney, they charged more than AU$400 for the same process.

As you can tell, I also hate visa applications...

I guess Australians get it pretty easy in the grand scheme of things. - Ben

Posted by: Dragon on March 18, 2009 11:49 AM

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii George, awwwwwwwwwwwwwesome logic you have there.

Posted by: Twits on March 18, 2009 11:58 AM

Its been a while since I had to get a Visa myself, though I do remember going through a lot of hoops to get unrestricted travel in Russia. Basically I went through this company in Russia that organised business visas. This meant you didn't have to specify hotels or have travel vouchers to travel around. Not sure if it still exists and it was also more expensive (about double the price). But it meant I could decide when and where to travel when I got to Russia.

Posted by: Mark on March 18, 2009 12:01 PM

"When I first applied for a British visa.. I was rejected the first time despite proof of ownership of a high end retail shop."

don't feel bad. as an aussie, i should in theory gain easy access to the motherland without even needing a visa. this didn't stop the immigration official from grilling me for 15 minutes about my plans, despite my holding a return ticket, having adequate funds, a professional job back in australia and no interest in staying in their freezing, wet country. one suspects they just assume that britain is naturally superior to everywhere else and therefore that everyone wants to move there.

Posted by: jules on March 18, 2009 12:24 PM

I understand everyones frustation but we have to work with the system. Next time you need a visa use the services of a visa services company like www.visalink.com.au

Posted by: Amanda on March 18, 2009 12:26 PM

When I travelled to Ireland in 2005 I got no stamps in my passport. So go figure.

Posted by: Pat on March 18, 2009 12:27 PM

A timely blog for me. I just wasted a couple of hours this morning filling out forms to get a new visa to work as a journo in the US. And the drama has just begun, I've still got to organise a photo, pay the fees of around $350, book an appointment via some service that requires a credit card payment for some reason, and then front up for an appointment at the embassy - more wasted time. And the documents they require are just outrageous. Funny thing is, I'd rather not go to the US at all. And as if I'd want to stay forever instead of living here...

Posted by: Kermit on March 18, 2009 12:48 PM

Try getting into Israel with a South African stamp in your UK passport!! I need two different passports to ensure entry into everywhere I go.

Every tried to get a visa for multiple entries into Australia, even if you live here and don't have an Australian passport :)

Posted by: David Naylor on March 18, 2009 1:03 PM

Try getting an Australian visa sometime! Most finicky, nit-picking, long-winded questions you can imagine.
And cos of Australia's miserable attitude to charging some nationalities for visas, we aussies get stung big-time in tit-for-tat charges.
Generally the less likely to attract tourists, the more the visa costs.
My favourite visa story was the Syrian Embassy in Tokyo. I needed a employment certificate, so came back a few days later with one in hand. "But it's in Japanese," the fella said. We paused. He gave me some paper, and said, " you translate," and all was good. And I think that was one where an Aussie passport saved me $20-30, too.

Posted by: curly on March 18, 2009 1:08 PM

With this new online visa notification for the USA it is the only country on the world where I have to get a medical certificate to get a visa entry.I have a minor, but visibly noticeable, physical conditiom.

I have seen most parts of the world

It is sick

Posted by: Tony on March 18, 2009 1:14 PM

Hi all.
This is a little off topic but i was wondering if I could get some advice from someone whose travelled to Sth America.

I'm travelling to Sth America soon and will be staying a year- travelling through various countries. I'm flying into Santiago then plan on bussing up to Peru within a few weeks of arriving.
My problem is that I'm being advised by my Flight center person that Australian officials might not let me out of Australia because I don't have proof that I will be leaving Chile within 90 days of arrival (it's 90days VISA free for Aussies). I have a return flight from Buenos Aires.
I spoke to the Chilean embassy who said that it's fine as long as I book the bus to Peru as soon as I arrive but apparently it's the Aussie officials who are problematic.
Hope this makes sense- any advice would be great!
Thanks

Posted by: Lucy on March 18, 2009 1:19 PM

One other baffling thing is not just the inconsistency in what a visa costs, but even how hard it is to obtain one. First time I went to China some 20 years ago I tried to get a visa before leaving. The paperwork involved could have sunk the QEII. I then received a tip that it's much easier to get these visas in Hong Kong, and since that was my entry point to China I decided to risk it and left home without a visa. Getting that visa in Hong Kong was the easiest thing. I filled in a single A4 page with the barest of information, gave them my passport and three days later I got it back with a shiny visa.

I'm lucky enough that I have dual citizenship as well, I was born in Switzerland. Although I haven't had a Swiss passport in ages, but 2 years ago when planning a trip through Turkey and Eastern Europe it all became too complicated trying to arrange the various visas on an Australian passport and it was easier in the end to get a Swiss passport and travel with both. It did get a few queries at some border crossings as to why I didn't have exit stamps of the country I just left, but overall it really made the trip far easier to organise.

I have gone through the Russian visa hell twice before, and am planning to head back later in the year, so I was hoping that things had improved somewhat. The first time I went there was when it was still the Soviet Union in 89 and they actually wanted me to book, amongst other things, a limo to pick me up from Leningrad train station to drive me the five blocks to the pre-booked hotel, at the princely sum of US$90. I'd managed to cancel that in the end, but the cancellation obviously didn't go through to their end, so as I got off the overnight train from Moscow, dirty, smelly and with a backpack, this big black limo with uniformed chauffeur was waiting for me. I'd forgotten all about it, so it was a bit scary at first when I walked up to an information desk at the station to ask where to find the subway entrance. Before I'd said a word the clerk addressed me by name, in English. My first thoughts were of all those KGB surveillance horror stories, but it was merely that I was the only foreigner on the train and they had a limo ready.

Posted by: pto on March 18, 2009 1:20 PM

Just sent off my application for a Syrian visa. Very annoying! If any of the paper work doesn't meet their requirements they will send it back. It also cost AU$100.00.

Posted by: Ben on March 18, 2009 1:29 PM

Whilst living in the States I sent my passport to the Vietnam Embassy to get my visa. A couple of weeks after I sent the passport off I got a phone call from the Vietnam Ebmassy. The bloke said "harrrrrrrrro Edwin. You send us sum apprekachun, but no passport". I said, "um, old legs, I fairly certain I put it in there, and danger of having another look?" He goes "I terrying you noooooooo passport" I was getting a bit worries by this stage and said "just check the envelope again, old teeth"...then there is silence followed by some papr rustling and he goes "edwinn, you passport is here."

Probably was a bit stupid to send it off in the first place, but had I known they had complete clowns working in their embassy I probably would have given the whole country a miss.

Posted by: Edwin Black on March 18, 2009 1:32 PM

Getting a US Visa from the London US Embassy back in 1991. The bored tired looking clerk stamped it off the page, so he stamped "cancelled without Prejudice" all over it. Then turned the page and stamped by passport properly. I was question about it at every border crossing for the rest of my passports life.

Posted by: David on March 18, 2009 1:35 PM

What's wrong with the United States Kermit? Sounds like a pretty stupid idea to go somewhere you obviously dislike. I hope Shaq devastates you at LAX.

Posted by: Seppo Darling on March 18, 2009 1:35 PM

The only time I needed a visa for my travels so far has been a trip to Macedonia (FYROM): thankfully the process was ok (and you no longer need one to go there) but more fun was had when you actually get in there and present your passport to the police to register your attendance in the country.

The process is actually repeated... and the same nerves get racked as you are waiting in a police station hoping everything will be okay...

Posted by: Nick on March 18, 2009 1:46 PM

As an Australian it was never a great hassel for me, but my wife is Russian and that means visas for every where. She has major issue at the moment. Had her passport stollen in Malaysia and has had to return to Russia for a new one as that is the only place Russia will issue her with a passport (and it takes 4 weeks)

Posted by: Bruce on March 18, 2009 2:00 PM

I've got a Russian visa 3 times now. The first time was just so frustrating. I got the Russian Travel Agent (invitation) letter from a Russian website, and it surprisingly worked really well, for just $30! Problem was the first time they gave me a business invitation not a personel one. Because it's all written in Russian I had no idea. So I got all the documents back in the mail, 3 days before I was meant to leave, and no visa.

Hurridly organise the correct invitation from the website, then had to fly up to Sydney to the Russian Embassy the day before my flight and pay $450 for a same day visa (instead of the usual $90 for 1 week processing).

It ended up costing me nearly $1000.

The next two times I learned to cross all the tees, tick all the boxes, and like magic, everything turned out well. Just need at least 3 weeks up your sleeve in case of problems.

Even getting a visa extension in Moscow worked really well, if not for the 2 hours wait, but having a travel agent next to me when talking to the officer worked perfectly. Just pay US$75 and a stamp in the book. It was easier than in Australia.

Posted by: ppiglet on March 18, 2009 2:05 PM

I have just had my application for a Russian visa denied because I was born in Russia and am therefore still a citizen by their rules. I am going on a tour and have all the required documents/invitation etc. I left Russia when I was 7 and never had a passport (in Russia you don't get a passport till you're 15) and my parents only had passports for USSR, so we assumed that when we moved over here we lost citizenship in Russia. Apparently not! So now I have to apply for a Russian passport which is a whole different complicated process. To add to that, I had no problem getting a visa in 2005 even though this apparent law was introduced in 2002, so clearly someone was in a bad mood when they got my visa application!

Posted by: gal on March 18, 2009 2:06 PM

In terms of difficulty, Libya and North Korea are the hardest for my knowledge. Both countries are ridiculous. However the baby-sitting in Libya is much more relaxed than in NK from what I have heard.

George Papadopoulos, what kind of correlation can needing a visa have with the safety of a country? There's very few countries in the world that are unsafe, there's also not that many that don't require a visa. Australia requires visas from many foreign nationals. Are we unsafe??

Posted by: Jonk on March 18, 2009 2:22 PM

I found it didn't seem to matter in China that I had a visa at all - they were insistent that my entire passport was fake and proceeded to pull it apart... happy days all the same

Posted by: Jo on March 18, 2009 2:24 PM

I have been denied twice now for visas. The first was in Equador when I was trying to get a visa for Brazil. After originally getting a Brazilian visa in Argentina, by filling in a form, sticking a photo to it and waiting 4 hours, I found myself having to get another one in Quito after losing my passport in Chile. (Whole other story, won't go in to that now). After a quick trip to the embassy and finding out that I now needed proof of flights in and out as well as the form and photo I ducked off to the Galapagos Islands and submitted the forms etc on my return. They then wanted to know how much money I had in my bank, when I was last paid by my previous employer etc. Anyway, to cut a long story short I went back every day for about 4-5 days with extra information every time to eventually be denied anyway.
The second time was in Rome trying to get a Russian Visa with the numerous forms filled only to find that as a resident of Australia I could only get a Russian Visa in the Russian embassy in Australia. A bit hard when you have been away from Australia for 8 months and plan to go to Russia without going back to Aus.
So, good luck with the Visas as unfortunately they are a necessary evil of travel!

Posted by: Andrew on March 18, 2009 2:25 PM

gal - I had the same issue with the US. I was born in Australia to an American mother and at 18 months, they decided to take me overseas. The American Consulate granted me a visa but on finding out I was eligible for citizenship cancelled it on the spot. My parents had to go through the whole ordeal of getting a US passport for me days before they left. However if I had travelled into the US on a foreign visa, I would have lost my ability to claim citizenship forever so it worked out for the best. It's always worth checking out each country's policy!

Posted by: tabitha on March 18, 2009 2:27 PM

They may stay with you for your whole trip (in our case two guides and a driver for the pair of us) but actually getting the North Korean visa was one of the easiest processes I have been through. Certainly beats such "friendly" countries as the UK.

And they even give you a separate card with a very cold war looking black and white photo so that you don't have any incriminating DPRK stamps on your passport to cause trouble later on (same as Cuba but better quality cardboard).

What gets me is the countries where you have to get a "Visa on Arrival" - given the point of a visa is supposed to be to vet entrants to the country surely this should be renamed an arrival tax??

Posted by: Crust on March 18, 2009 2:33 PM

It depends where you go in Australia Jonk - last night for example, I was walking home from O'Connells on High Street in Kyneton after shifting a monumental amount of piss and saw one of the biggest fights since Foreman fought Ali deep within the loins of Africa! Was superb viewing. Basically, Thommo's missus Chloe decided that her friend Rachel had taken a liking to Thommo and BANG it was on like donkey kong. I reckon Chloe won on points, but if a French national had been walking past just as Chloe was dropping her knee into Rachel's larynx I don't think old Pierre would have said Australia was a very safe place. You get my drift Jonk?

Posted by: Neville of Kyneton on March 18, 2009 2:47 PM

I am a total beginner to travelling, visas, passports, etc.
So i wanted to find out if I needed a visa to travel to a few countries in EU.
What i found on this website seems to contradict itself, first it says you dont need a visa, AT ALL. then it explains what a schengen visa is for!! WTF!!!

*Who needs a visa to Finland?
Australian and New Zealand citizens DO NOT NEED A VISA to Finland provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days within the period of 6 months.

Visa requirement in the Schengen area and travel documents accepted by Finland
Schengen visa

A Schengen visa issued by any country under the Schengen rules will be valid for travel in all the Schengen countries i.e. one visa alone will enable the bearer to travel in all the 25 Schengen countries - 22 EU and 3 non EU countries. A Schengen visa enables a person to visit one or several of the Schengen countries for business, tourism, visiting friends/relatives etc for a maximum of 90 days every six months*

Posted by: Cam on March 18, 2009 2:54 PM

I travelled to the caribbean for the cricket world cup a couple of years ago, they made us get some special visa just for the world cup, so i decided i was not going to cop that on the chin, so i decided to scuba dive from miami to barbados...BIG MISTAKE, I rate myself only behind michael phelps in swimming ability so I thought the swim would take me approximately 50 minutes, so I made sure I had 60 minutes of air in my tank...fark me!!! fair to say i miscaculated, took me 18 days!!! I was knackered by the end of it and to top things off a custom boat spotted me walk onto the shore and i had to pay the visa anyway...I FARKING HATE THE CARIBBEAN!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: P-MAC on March 18, 2009 2:54 PM

Have you considered the challenges involved in a round the world trip to every country in the world in one claendar year and how many visa applications that might involve ?

If you intend to transit through or visit several Schengen states for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes YOU HAVE TO OBTAIN YOUR SCHENGEN VISA from the Consulate of the country of your main destination. If your main destination cannot be ascertained, the country you first enter is responsible for granting your visa.

Please note that New Zealand citizens holding an ordinary passport DO NOT NEED A VISA for stays up to 90 days for all Schengen states for tourist or business purposes.

Do need a visa? dont need a visa?
please explain

Posted by: Cam on March 18, 2009 3:07 PM

Tabitha, all I read from your yawn fest of a paragraph was that your parents are peanuts up on another stratosphere! Any danger of finding out this information in the months leading up to the trip. They sound like they would not feel out of place at a painting class for people with down syndrome

Posted by: TRAVEL GURU on March 18, 2009 3:10 PM

Depending on where you are, you can try just bluffing your way through border crossings. While disorganisation and incompetence amongst public officials can be a source of incredible frustration, it can work in your favour if you're lucky, or understand the local context well enough.

I lived in Croatia for over two years without ever getting a residence permit. I just kept reapplying for tourist visas once I got a fresh entry stamp in my passport. The downside was having to drive to Slovenia every three months, at least for a while.

At that stage, Aussies (officially) needed a visa for Bosnia, whose border was much closer to where I was living. Nobody else seemed to, and the police are pretty useless, so I decided to suck it and see at my local border crossing. I passed without a problem and subsequently so at various crossing points.

I only ended up having to get some proper paperwork for Croatia after being there for over two years. This was only because I moved to a small town and the police (who I had to keep re-registering with) knew who I was.

Posted by: Paul on March 18, 2009 3:16 PM

My daughter has just gone on the classic UK/Europe walkabout. Didn't know how long she would take, might like it & work for a bit, so applied for a UK Visa under the "Youth Mobility Scheme", which would allow her to work there if she wanted. Ok, lets apply for it then. After much trawling about on various websites (you can't talk to anyone - maybe an answering machine in Canberra at $2.75/min) found she qualified for it in spades. Ok, now for an appointment in Perth to have biometrics taken (fingerprints, eyes, etc) - getting serious now. Fill out application form, get bank statement from Commonwealth Bank as evidence of Funds to support - no problem girl at Bank said, "we do this all the time" & prints off a Bank Statement. Send off application to Canberra along with $250 AND PASSPORT (when were you ever supposed to let go of your passport to some unknown bureaucrat 4,000km away for an indefinite period?) an wait. And wait. Getting close to departure time now - they've still got the passport. Finally the long-awaited official looking "UK Border Agency" envelope arrives. Open anxiously. You have been refused a Visa! Reason: the Commonwealth Bank Statement printed at the Branch by the girl who "did this all the time" didn't have a little round branch stamp on it! Never mind that there was more money in the account that a Bangladeshi family of 11 could survive on for 12 months in the UK. Oh well, she said, I'm off anyway, I guess I'll just be a tourist & come home when the money runs out. Gets to UK & guess what? Customs pull her aside & grill her for an hour because she's had a visa application rejected. Ok, so now we have someone who was probably the most perfectly qualified person in the world for UK Youth Mobility Visa (WASP, 23yrs old, University Graduate, heaps of money, the Queen is her Head of State for God's sake) being on the UK Border Agency "most suspicious" list. Do I sound bitter & twisted? Good! Bring on the Republic!

Posted by: Peter Townsend on March 18, 2009 3:18 PM

Your post couldn't come at a better time for me. I am currently in the process of trying to arrange a Russian visa and couldn't help but laugh bitterly at your comments.

One of my favourite parts of the process is that on the visa form, they ask you for info off your invitation. Easy? Sure is, IF you know how to read Russian.

Adding to my panic is that I want to go over there during Eurovision (making things even busier) and I am in Melbourne where there is no Russian Consulate. The good news is that Vladamir on the desk might not screw up my trip, but i've had to send them my actual passport.

Talk about stressful! I just keep telling myself how fantastic it will be when I get there.

Posted by: Kelly on March 18, 2009 3:25 PM

Years ago before poland was opened up to the rest of the world, i was in germany and had to go the polish embassy to get a visa... the embassy was out in the cranbourne version of Berlin..(i-e Rats with mercedez racing jackets, bogans with hertha berlin tops on, main street full of Snitzel houses, and men walking around with florescent wife beaters on)....

anyway so i get there, and this Polish guy goes "dhajkd ahdeh heahae".... and i went "cosi cosi, mi chaimo andolino".... Next thing i know i've got 6 big poles, giving me piledrivers, bodyslams, and that special leg move that Jake the snake used to do, they throw me out of the embassy, slam the door... i turn around and realise i'm in the slums of Germania... this dude comes up to me in Leather, so at this stage i just gave in... (i will expand on this story when ben does a blog on "homose*xual adventures whilst travelling)...... So turns out i was speaking Italian... It just frustrates me that as an english speaking tourist i go through the trouble of learning a language, i try it and i almost get arrested... i never ended up getting a Visa... something along the lines that i insulted the embassy staff.....

So i never went to poland...

Posted by: ando on March 18, 2009 3:29 PM

I am from adelaide originally and I tried to get a visa to travel to kangaroo island many years ago. I rocked up to the embassy of some country believing that any embassy will issue visas for any other country, which is what my mate Billy Bob had told me. So I moonwalked into this embassy, think it was Mongolia, in my happy pants and fish net shirt which was the trend in Adelaide at the time. Walked up to the counter and demanded my visa to kangaroo island, well this mongolian bird started getting lippy with me and told me it was actually apart of australia, she obviously didn't know what she was talking about and I was getting extremely frustrated, so I reached over the counter and got her in a head lock, next thing i know I am getting bashed by about 8 mongolians with bats...

Well to cut a long story short, Billy Bob gave me some wrong information and now spends his days inhaling his food through a straw and he is minus two legs and an ear.

I want to delete this nifty, but I just can't bring myself to do it... - Ben

Posted by: nifty on March 18, 2009 3:36 PM

Have to say, the easiest visa I ever applied for was the Australian Work and Holiday visa (from the US). I applied on Christmas Eve and received an email with my visa number eleven minutes later. Brilliant!!

I don't really mind filling in the visa paperwork (even the exceptionally long Russian visa application for Americans); however, what does bother me is the disparity in costs. I understand the point of a visa system but shouldn't the cost be the same for all countries? I have yet to figure out why my visa to China cost $155 USD (almost $250 AUD!) whilst Australians only have to pay $40 AUD. The best answer my tour guide in China could give me was that all Americans are perceived as rich. Right.... I'm still waiting for that wealth to find its way to my bank account!

Posted by: Mel on March 18, 2009 3:40 PM

I am traveling to Europe from April and my travel agent bird told me that, although the Schengen visa has the 90 day limit etc etc, Australia has separate agreements with pretty much every country in Europe (Germany for example) that lets Australians stay 90 days in that country visa free. So in theory, you could go to all those countries and stay for 90 days in each, then the few we don't have agreements with (I think Estonia is one) we can get Schengen visa for. But the time you spend in Germany doesn't count towards your Schengen time because of the agreement with Australia. Something like that. In any case, I'm planning on spending much longer in European countries than just 90 days in 6 months, so screw border officials if they want to mess around. Just threaten to call your embassy, that usually works

Posted by: Knackers on March 18, 2009 4:37 PM

Ooooh, I feel a little bit ill now.

Just posted off my passport, a money order and associated crap to the Mongolian Embassy. Russian & Chinese visas are next.

Could have got visalink to do the lot but they were going to charge me almost $600.00 to do what I can do for about $220.00

My inner tight-a&%e wouldn't let me do it.

Mongolia should be pretty straightforward. Russia on the other hand... - Ben

Posted by: Virgin Queen on March 18, 2009 4:45 PM

Standing outside the Czech Embassy in London (pre their membership of the EU) when they only issued 20 visas a day. This 'limited supply' required you get there 2 hours early if you wanted any chance of getting one. Standing around for 2 hours on a cold London mornng wasn't any highlight to write home about...

Posted by: Huddo on March 18, 2009 4:53 PM

you get used to it. We travel all over the world and most of the coutries we do business in require visas before you can fly. And most of them are 1 page visas so 64 pages last about 18 months to 2 years. Though we have 2 Australian Passports to make it easier as some visas take up to a month.
Some are down right rediculous with their demands but then it is their country and Australia is just as tough if not tougher so we really have nothing to complain about. My last 1 year multi entry indian business visa was $500 then a month later we got one for one of my guys for half the cost.
Russian business visas also require blood tests...
The biggest bit of advice is to be organised and plan in advance what paper work is needed. Even down to the background colour for your passport pics for the visa.

Australian immigration officials really don't care what you intend to do when you leave the country! Whist I'm sure they wouldn't condone you breaking another country's immigration (or other) laws, they are just too busy administering Australia's own immigration laws to care.
Bottom line is that if you get caught doing something wrong overseas then you will pay the consequences (worst case think Bali 9 etc) and the best you can possibly hope for is some Australian consular assistance in maybe getting a decent lawyer.

The only place I know of where citizen's leaving the country are potentially harassed by their own immigration officials is the Philippines!

Enjoy your trip and stay safe :-)

Posted by: Pserp on March 18, 2009 5:41 PM

Bah! I'm about to start a cycling trip from London to Melbourne so if you think that a little trip with one or two visas is hard try organising letters of invitation and tours to Iran, Azerbaijan and Tibet because their governments need everyone to be babysat. Plus I have to then apply for each of the visas in the preceeding country because you can't apply for anything more than 3 months in advance. I'm going to be dealing with someone that speaks Farsi and Urdu in Tehran just to try to cross into Pakistan, Oh the joy. I don't understand why they can't let a little cyclist like me cruise along and not create heaps of headaches.

Posted by: Tc on March 18, 2009 5:46 PM

Oh please don't tell me Russia is the hardest country!! I am about to start applying for a visa there. The frustrating thing is that I am only there for 8 days - it hardly seems like I'll be there long enough to warrant a visa. Also I am visiting a friend, which means I don't automatically have invitation papers, and the friend is not Russian which means he can't go and get me an invitation easily. *sigh*

Posted by: joss on March 18, 2009 5:59 PM

A warning to those who are applying for a UK Visa under the new System..... It's difficult. Don't expect your visa to arrive on time, or to be accepted at all. I have just been awarded my UK working Visa after being denied the first time I applied. They left a big DENIED stamp on my passport and the reason for the denial was rather trivial.
Still, the UK embassy is a whole lot nicer than the Australian I hear. God bless the Queen

Posted by: Luke Hindson on March 18, 2009 6:58 PM

so do you need a schengen visa to travel to europe?

Posted by: Cam on March 18, 2009 7:07 PM

Applying for visas has taken years off my life, especially this time round.

My sister and I are spending four days in Brazil at the end of April. Being highly organised this time round I send off the passports along with all the documents a full three weeks before my sister leaves (I leave one week later) and what happens?

They put the WRONG name on my sisters visa. I mean we filled out all the paper work in clear print and they have the passport in front of them with her full name printed on it and they still get it wrong. WTF?

Thank god I was able to get it ammended in record time without having to fork out anymore cash!

Posted by: Jennifer on March 18, 2009 8:17 PM

Posted by: Knackers on March 18, 2009 4:37 PM

Your travel agent is right. Australians have visa free access to most of Europe, you should just check the embassy site of each country that you are going to - or buy a lonely planet europe that should tell you

The only people I have ever known to need schengen visas are south africans.

And am soon to go to Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro

Posted by: Schengen??? on March 18, 2009 9:03 PM

I lived in Germany as an exchange student in 2005 and had such a hassle getting my 'residency' for the year. We had to go down to our local police/customs place without appointments and wait all day. Took about two weeks to finally get it sorted, but it ended up being a pretty cool visa in my passport.

I stupidly organised a trip flying to London from Germany and didn't even consider visas. Either my Australian passport or German residence visa made that really easy. All they asked at customs was how long was was staying (4 days) and why I was visiting (visiting a friend). Realised afterwards that I was lucky. (Also got to skip the EU line =) )

I'm planning a trip all over SE Asia and am not looking forward to applying for visas to Timor, Burma, Brunei and Oman. The others should be (hopefully) hassle free.

Posted by: Bri on March 18, 2009 9:37 PM

please. Australians are not really in a position to complain. 450 bucks for an OZ visa (for students! who are going to spend big bucks on uni, accomodation, living expenses ...) is not exactly a freebie, is it? and change your course - guessed? its another 450 bucks. plus maybe another medical (going for a research degree might deteriorate your health really quickly?!)
and do you know how many pages the form is? twenty-three (23).
and I dont even get a fancy rubber stamp! just an email!
- ok I would get a stamp if I went for a work visa. but that costs another 60 AUD. plus some more forms. and some queuing.
so, what about this visa for Russia?

Posted by: Uschi on March 18, 2009 10:08 PM

Have to agree with you on Russia Ben. I eventually got to Russia in 2006 but not without the ridiculous mishaps.

I applied for a visa 6 weeks before leaving Australia and mistakenly thought I had left plenty of time for this. However the thought did occur to me that I may have overestimated the efficency of the Russian bureaucratic system so I paid the "rush fee" (approx $140) to have my visa processed in 5 days working days.

2 weeks prior to leaving for London (where I was going first) I began to get antsy that my passport had not been returned and I had not been contacted. Thats when I discovered that the visa section of the Russian consulate in Sydney (I was in Melbourne) was only open from 9am to 12 pm 4 days a week (presumably the day ended at 12pm so all could indulge in a liquid lunch of vodka). However when you rang between the designated times, no one answered the damn phone. So I contacted the general section, only to be told of course that you had to call the visa section which it seemed no one staffed.

1 week before leaving the country I (getting depserate) sent urgent faxes to the consulate. Amazingly Vladimir (yes that was his name) rang me back and advised my passport was on its way and I breathed a sigh of relief thinking my troubles were over.

My passport arrived on Thursday and I was leaving the country on Sat. Got the passport and being the anal lawyer that I am I carefully checked each detail. Funnily enough there was an error -my passport number on the visa was incorrect. This meant hopping on a virgin flight to Sydney on the Friday to get the error fixed, as I sure did not want to be turned away at the border.

Got to Sydney, and despite being in line at 9am when the doors opened I only just made it by the skin of my teeth however, visa fixed (took Vladimir out for a shot of vodka after he courteously helped me out again) and I was off on my travels!

But got to St Petersburg, and after waiting for 2 hours in a queue that was less that 20m long got to immigration where I was promptly refused entry because my passport only had 7 months left to run on it after I returned home. Its worth pointing out that the legal requirement (sorry being the lawyer again) was that I have 6 months validity on my passport from date of return to Australia.

Paid the additional fee (bribe?) and went on my way but only after downing a bottle of vodka at the first pub I passed to drown my sorrows and rest my weary head after trying to calculate what i had lost in time and money in getting a visa.

That said, Russia was fabulous and a country worth the hassle of jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get into. In a couple of days I had a cast iron stomach and could drink the vodka with the locals morning noon and night (at least I think I could - I cant really remember).

Posted by: Ann on March 18, 2009 11:16 PM

Christ, Russia is a bloody nightmare innit. I was planning a Trans-Siberian trip and thought I'd go insane from all the red tape garbage I had to go through... and does anyone on the visa line at the Russian Consulate actually answer the phone?!

Anyway, it fell through as I ended up going on exchange to China. Getting in was easy enough... but trying to renew a tourist visa twice (the daft bastard at uni organised it so poorly we weren't able to get student visas) was interesting, not to mention going through the process of applying to go to Tibet during my two weeks off.

North Korea seems relatively straighforward in comparison to somewhere like Russia, and it's something I intend to do once I have the time and money after I get back from spending this year in Japan - I have far more visas and re-entry permits and stamps from Japan than any other country, fortunately they're easy to deal with.

Posted by: Ash on March 18, 2009 11:22 PM

I departed mainland Tanzania on a boat and arrived at the port of the autonomous region of Zanzibar. Despite being the same country as Tanzania I was still required to go through immigration and have en entry stamp in my visa. All in all this is not completely strange. What is strange is that my father who flew from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar did not need any stamps as imigration is not conducted at the airport, only the seaport. When I flew out there was no one to stamp me out, so according to my visa I never left. I wish in reality that were the case.

Posted by: Alexander JE Bradley on March 19, 2009 12:50 AM

advice for lucy:

i've heard of a few people who've had problems coming into santiago on a one-way ticket. My advice is just buy a bus ticket to Mendoza (beautiful town in Argentinean wine country). It's only $20 or something and you'll probably want to go there anyway.

oh and if you need to get a brazilian visa in santiago it takes 1 week (not 2/3 hours like it says in the LP).

have fun!

Posted by: susan on March 19, 2009 1:30 AM

This post could not have been more timely. I am in the throes of planning my first trip to Aus (from the US), all while trying to get my name changed. Needless to say, Qantas and the DIAC are none too thrilled with me, and I hope the US government can file their paperwork fast enough to catch up. The insanity is something like this: wait for papers to be filed in US, be assigned court date, hope you're not bumped back, get authorization, wait for papers to be cleared, get certified copies, file with passport issuers (pay for expedited service), THEN file for visa. If it doesn't go through fast enough, then the process will be: call Qantas, explain the situation, explain that credit card will not match ticket name or passport name, go under old name, file for changes upon return.

Here's hoping!

Posted by: bec on March 19, 2009 4:21 AM

When I applied for my egyptian visa at the rather intimidating embassy in Melbourne I was given a blue raffle ticket and told to come back produce the raffle and pick up my passport in 10 days.

No problems, my passport is dependent on a blue raffle ticket.

I come back clutching my precious blue raffle ticket 10 days later onto to be produced with someone else's passport who looked nothing like me and was about 20 years older than me. Given I was trying to get out of the place as fast as possible i didn't realise until I'd actually left the building. Alas, with a bit of explanation they did eventually manage to produce my passport.

Posted by: Leanne on March 19, 2009 8:50 AM

Russia I find relatively problem free- I just go the pay someone else to do it route- check it out on the web.
Uzbekistan, however, was not pretty, I try to avoid remebering what I went through on that one- we are talking queueing at an embassy at 5am amongst other nightmares.

Posted by: sophy on March 19, 2009 9:23 AM

In august of last year i started applyiny for my ancestry visa for the UK. I filled in all the online paper work correct and gav in all the docomunts they wanted - These were exactly the same ones apart from my birth cirtificate that my brother had sent in three years earlier.
At the end of October i got a letter saying i had been rejected for my visa. The emotions i felt on that day were terrible. I was i guess you could say suffering from grief. I wanted it so much.
They did say though with the rejection letter that i was able to appeal the descision. After a few days to calm down and talking with some family memebers i then had to go and find my great grandmothers wedding certificate - hoping that it hadn't been burnt, lost or destroyed during WW2.
I was in luck and within 3weeks of appealing i had my ancestry visa!! i am now in the UK living and working and enjoying it so much but the m,emory of being denied the visa shall never leave me. When you want something that much and don't get it you just have to keep fighting.

Posted by: alison on March 19, 2009 9:53 AM

George, countries that require a visa are largely unsafe?? I don't think you have been properly informed! You don't need a visa for plenty of countries with nice high murder rates! Anyway as long as you keep your eyes open and your wits about you, you should be pretty safe in most places.

Visa's may be a hassle to get especially Russia (Cuba was really easy, all done via the post) but my they look great in your passport and it's part of the holiday story when you get back. My favourite flight story is of the LAN flight where there was fuel spewing out of the left wing, not the completely forgettable flights! Visa's are the same the harder they are to get the more embellished the story can become after it is all over. It's all part of the travel adventure that most of us who bother to comment here know is part of the addiction!

Posted by: Jenny on March 19, 2009 1:01 PM

Ben, given the amount of confusing or plain wrong information in this blog, I think you need to do the responsible thing and write a clarifying note. Take all the stuff about Schengen visas. I believe it is quite simple but not one of your bloggers told the whole story and many virgin Oz travellers will still be in the dark. No, Australian passport holders do not need to get a (Schengen) visa in advance of travel to most of the EU if only for the purpose of short vacation. BUT when you first arrive internationally into a Schengen country you will be issued the standard (90d) visa at the point of entry. This IS a Schengen visa (it may not state that on the visa –I cannot remember--but that is what it is). This means you can travel from Schengen country to Schengen country without anymore new visas required (which is different to not being inspected/stamped etc which admittedly occasionally doesn’t happen through sheer slackness—but plan on being stamped on all entry/exits, even/especially on trains that cross borders in the middle of the night without stopping). Now the idea if you enter Germany (Knackers 4:37 PM) that the time you spend in Germany doesn’t somehow count in your allowed “90 days in 6 months” sounds like total baloney. No, the initial “Australians stay 90 days in that country visa free” is misleading on two counts. First the confusion in many blogs is the notion of a visa—I know of no foreign country to which an Australian can enter without a visa—but these days most are issued upon entry at the airport. Second, the visa you get upon entry to Germany (if it is the European entry point) IS a Schengen visa! On the other hand the UK is not a Schengen country so I am not totally sure but for the moment I would assume that if you spend say 70d in a Schengen country(s) then travel to the UK (who will stamp their visa in your passport upon entry) where you stay, say, another 60d. Then you should still be able to travel back to a Schengen country on the original Schengen visa (you have no choice, you cannot ask for a new one until the 6 months has passed) and stay for another –but no more than—20 days. There may well be ways to cheat the system but make no mistake, they are illegal and if you are caught you will pay, and probably be kicked out of that –and all—Schengen countries.
Oh, also one blogger implied they “have 2 Australian Passports to make it easier” seems extremely unlikely—I believe it would be illegal or extremely difficult to obtain legally.

Posted by: MichaelJ on March 19, 2009 2:03 PM

One little warning about coming to Japan: Whatever your visa, if you plan to leave Japan and return during its life, you need to get a re-entry permit. Nobody at the travel agent, the Japanese embassy or consulate or anybody on my way in told me about this. I found out from fellow non-Japanese already here. Some of whom had to run around the airport on the way out, trying to find the office that issues re-entry permits. It's easy to get one from the immigration office before you go, assuming one knows about them.
Oddly, the form for the re-entry permit used to ask 'Why do you need a re-entry permit?' I don't know myself, and used to put 'It's Japanese law' in that box. They may have realised the stupidity of the question, because they no longer ask it.

Tell you one what, to getting a Australian Residency Visa for my Japanese wife is bugging me. There's far more paperwork than for my visa here, which is not really a problem. The big issue is the cost: nearly $2,500!

Posted by: Kakui Kujira on March 19, 2009 6:06 PM

RE: Rudigar

Make sure you have your "Letter of Introduction" (just print out the email) from the Canadian Government for the US Visa. Thats all they need to see (as well as the forms), After spending over an hour getting through security (they put you through in groups, and my group had some tradesmen going up to do some work...everything needed to be hand inspected) at the Melbourne Consulate, then waiting for almost an hour for my pre-interview interview, and discovering I hadn't filled out the supplemental form I needed to, thus losing my place in the queue, waiting another hour for my final interview, stuck behind people with extremely obscure and long winded reasons for going to the US, it eventually took me less then a minute at the final counter.

Me: Hi
Them: Hi, what is your reason for visiting the US?
Me: Going on my way to Canada to work
Them: Do you have your Letter of Introduction?
Me: Yes
Them: You have just made life a lot easier for yourself. You wouldn't believe how many people don't bring it. Your passport will be mailed back to you tomorrow.

I then proceeded to have the time of my life in the USA (as well as Canada...getting the Work Visa at Vancouver airport took 3 hours of standing in a queue, as I was behind a lot of large, permenently immigrating families and Mormons who I heard to say they were "there to do Gods work" to the Immigration Offical)

Don't judge a country by its Visas.

Posted by: HB on March 23, 2009 2:05 PM

My husband and I just applied (and luckily were approved) for Highly Skilled Migrant visas to the UK. The visas took 58 working days processing time, which I think is ridiculous for such a standard visa that requires absolutely no judgement to assess. The= BHC say you can ring up for a status update after 30 working days (at $10 a pop), but EVERY time you call you get the same standard response ("it's at the assessment and processing stage". What a generic response - very helpful. It was an absolute rort and they just took their good old time processing the visas with no accountability or service level agreements at all.

Posted by: Hayley on March 25, 2009 12:58 PM

It is easy to get a Russian visa if you remember a few things:

Send your application to the Canberra Embassy rather than the Sydney consulate.

You don't need a travel agent specific letter supporting your documents. You can do the letter yourself and it has to be in the form of an itinerary ie dates, places, accommodation, methods of entry and exit, passport numbers, names, invitation numbers, etc. This requirement is purely from the Sydney consulate (probably to get you to use a very high priced 'Russian Travel' specialist). Check out the respective website for the Russian Embassy in Canberra and the consulate in Sydney - they have different requirements!

Send your passport in a registered envelope and include a registered envelope and the bank cheque for processing.

You dont need to read Russian to fill in the forms for a visa. All they're looking for is the numbers on the Invitation and the voucher you receive from the hotel you've booked.

The best way to get into Russia is to take the train from Helsinki in Finland to St. Petersburg. They do immigration on the train as its travelling and its no problems. The immigration officers usually friendly. Once you're in St. Petersburg you can go anywhere you like.

Posted by: Harry Cadle on March 25, 2009 6:24 PM

UK working visas are an utter nightmare. They recommend that you not book anything until you have the visa, advise that the visa can take 3 months to process and require that you enter within 3 months of the date on which you applied. Do they learn maths in the UK? The embassy staff instil zero confidence and, astoundingly, they charge $10 for you to ask a question. Outrageous!!

Posted by: Andew on April 1, 2009 3:42 PM

Last year planning to link up with my brother( US citizen) to visit China. Thought it would be logical to first meet up in some convenient place like HK. But with limited holiday it would be prudent to get the visa first, right? WRONG !!! Application form demands proof such as air tickets, hotel bookings etc. Without them, don't even get pass the thoroughly rude Aussie at the gate. I ended up travelling to HK and applied there. Advice from the HK office? Don't book any hotels, tours etc UNTIL you have the visa !!!!

Posted by: Tony on April 1, 2009 8:45 PM

Last year planning to link up with my brother( US citizen) to visit China. Thought it would be logical to first meet up in some convenient place like HK. But with limited holiday it would be prudent to get the visa first, right? WRONG !!! Application form demands proof such as air tickets, hotel bookings etc. Without them, don't even get pass the thoroughly rude Aussie at the gate. I ended up travelling to HK and applied there. Advice from the HK office? Don't book any hotels, tours etc UNTIL you have the visa !!!!

Posted by: Tony on April 1, 2009 8:45 PM

Whoever said a death in the family, getting married and moving were the most stressful things in life had never applied fir a British Visa!

Posted by: Anthony Day on April 2, 2009 7:06 AM

Have done a number of trips back and forward to Europe and a number of trips within Europe.
The most difficult place to enter has been the UK, even when I had the UK working holiday visa(2004) or when I had a Swiss work permit a couple of years later.

I guess thats not so bad, someone from england still needs to get a visa to come to Australia for a holiday, but we don't need one to enter the UK for a holiday. I still think that Australia is one of the hardest place to visit.

And being part of the Commonwealth dosn't mean crap no matter what side of the ocean you are on.

Posted by: Jamie on April 2, 2009 9:22 AM

Try being Iranian - EVERYONE demands they get Visas, except Turkey.

WE went round the world, to 21 countries and the only Visas we needed to get were for China, Mongolia and Brazil.

We had to apply for our Brazilian visa when were in Colombia because the woman in Sydney who does the passports is apparently a bit of a cow. (And getting our Brazilian visa in COlombia took _24 hours_, instead of 2 weeks and was about 1/3 the price)

We got our Chinese visa in Manchester (apparently we were incredibly lucky - even though the process was easy and short, since it was already June 08, it was only a few days later they stopped issuing them!) and our Mongolian visa in London. Again, easy. :)

Posted by: kim on April 4, 2009 12:34 AM

I cannot begin to tell you how deep my dislike for the UK Embassy in Canberra runs!

It is a Kafkaesque disgrace of an institution staffed by rude, ignorant people and run like Fawlty Towers.

Posted by: Infuriated on April 23, 2009 11:41 AM

Being an EU/Netherlands citizen I was surprised and a little annoyed that I still had to register my name and address at the local town hall of the city I was living in whilst in Germany. Then I found out everyone has to register where they are staying, German or not and carry ID cards around. Pretty sus for a liberal democracy.

Posted by: Daniel on May 6, 2009 9:25 PM

In response to MichaelJ on March 19, 2009 2:03 PM...

You've made a real mess of that one haven't you..."I believe" is no proof of fact...

"I know of no foreign country to which an Australian can enter without a visa"

Haven't been out in Europe as much as you let on then? Australians have "visa free" entry into the Schengen zone. "visa free" for up to 90 days per country.

And it is perfectly legal to have two Australian passports, you just have to apply for the 2nd which is required for "business purposes", though it's only valid for 3 years, still very useful...

Now, "I know" this because I cross borders in the Schengen Zone every other day here...

Posted by: Ex Pat on May 13, 2009 9:58 PM

Australia IS one of the hardest places to visit! :-)

I am an Aussie with dual citizenship living in Malaysia but let my Aussie passport lapse because too expensive to keep 2 passports going & British passport has my work permit.

Uncle died late last year so did what I do every 2 years when I go back for holidays - apply for visa for British passport. Unlike the last 4 times, visa was rejected. Went to High Comm in KL & was scolded that Aussie citizens MUST travel in & out of Aust on their Aussie passport! News to me and with funeral next day, no time to get passport. So, strangely enough they made me travel with NO passport & had immigration official escort me through airports all 4 stages.

And told me to get a new Aussie passport, which I now have. Problem will be using it - entry location always wants you to use the same passport as you exited from.

Posted by: Eina on July 2, 2009 1:17 PM

instead of giving a proof of occupation to the embassy...since i have no work at the moment...what am i suppose to do?? please help!

Posted by: grace on February 8, 2010 4:01 AM

i am planning to travel to vienna austria to respond a frien's invitation...i have no work at the moment but the embassy requires me to pass an evidence of occupation..what am i suppose to do??please help me...